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Fukubukuro

/ˈfʊkʊbʊkʊroʊ/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A lucky bag filled with assorted items, sold at a discount, especially during the New Year in Japan.

    "During the New Year sales, many people line up to buy fukubukuro from their favorite stores."
  2. 2

    A promotional item that offers consumers a surprise assortment of products.

    "The fukubukuro from the electronics store contained a mix of gadgets and accessories."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'fukubukuro' originates from Japanese, combining 'fuku' (福), meaning 'fortune' or 'luck', and 'bukuro' (袋), meaning 'bag'. This custom dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868) when merchants would sell mystery bags filled with assorted goods during the New Year, symbolizing good fortune for the coming year.

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